Condiment shaker



R. A.. RANSOM CONDIMENT SHAKER Aug 30, 1949.

Filed June 4, 1946 F fg. 2

Fig.

Russell A. Ransom INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a condiment shaker.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described specially designed for the purpose of dispensing salt or other similar condiments irrespective of the condition of the contents of the shaker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a condiment shaker equipped with means for unclogging the outlet perforations as Well as for controlling said perforations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the character described whereby the contents of the shaker may be forced outwardly through the outlet openings.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view of the shaker taken on the line ll of Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a top plan view ;-and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates the body of the shaker which is preferably, though not necessarily, substantially cylindrical in form.

Secured within the body there is a spider 2 having a plurality of bearings 3.

Screwed into the lower end of the body I there is a base 4. However, the base may be formed integrally with the body if desired. The base is formed with a cylindrical socket 5 to receive a cylindrical shaped pusher 6 whose inner end is reduced and fitted through an internal annular flange l in the inner end of the base which closely surrounds said pusher. The outer end of the pusher has an external annular flange 9 and the pusher is maintained against detachment from the base by an internal snap ring 10.

Surrounding the pusher and interposed be tween the flanges and 9 there is a coil pressure spring II.

The upper end of the body is provided with a plurality of outlet perforations l2 aligned with the bearings 3 and secured to the inner end of the pusher and working through the bearings 3 there are the plungers l3 which are aligned with the corresponding perforations 12. The free ends of these plungers are blunt and some of the plungers are longer than the others.

In case the perforations l2 become clogged the pusher 6 may be depressed, that is forced inwardly in the socket 5, so as to force the free ends of the plungers through the perforations leaving the other outlet openings 12 open so as.

to restrict the discharge of the contents of the shaker.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A condiment shaker comprising a base Whose upper end is reduced in diameter, a hollow body whose lower end is screwed onto said base, a transverse spider secured in the body and having a plurality of bearings, said base being formed with an external cylindrical socket, a cylindrically shaped pusher in the socket, plungers on the pusher working through the bearings, said base having an internal annular flange at its upper end and the upper end of the pusher being reduced in diameter and fitted closely through said flange, an external annular flange on the lower end of the pusher, an internal snap ring within said socket beneath said external flange to retain the pusher against detachment, a coil spring located between said flanges, the upper end of the body being provided with a plurality of outlet perforations which are aligned with the corresponding bearings, said plungers being of a length to be projected through the perforations upon inward movement of the pusher in said socket.

RUSSELL A. RANSOM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 417,981 Boston Dec. 24, 1889 937,995 Hitt Oct. 26, 1909 964,433 Kinsley July 12, 1910 1,213,634 Havassy Jan. 23, 1917 1,238,118 Edmunds Aug. 28, 1917 2,205,040 Kasin June 18, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 712,916 France Aug. 3, 1931 

